GRANT PARISH, La. – High school football teams across Grant Parish closed out the 2026 regular season with two hard-fought contests Friday, November 6, as the Grant Cougars and Montgomery Tigers combined for 80 points despite both falling in closely contested games.
Grant came up just short in a 48–44 road loss to West Ouachita, while Montgomery nearly pulled off an upset against St. Mary’s in Natchitoches before falling 42–36.
With the regular season complete, Montgomery will turn its attention to the Louisiana High School Athletic Association playoffs, where the Tigers have earned a first-round matchup against Elton.
Grant Cougars Fall to West Ouachita in 48–44 Shootout
The Grant Cougars concluded their regular season Friday night with a narrow 48–44 loss to West Ouachita in a high-scoring road contest.
The Cougars delivered one of their strongest offensive performances of the season, putting 44 points on the scoreboard and remaining within striking distance of the Chiefs throughout the contest.
Despite the four-point loss, Grant demonstrated its ability to move the football and generate points against a larger-school opponent.
The Cougars entered Friday’s matchup looking to rebound from consecutive district losses, including a 49–14 defeat against Bunkie on October 30 and a 30–14 loss to Marksville on October 23.
Grant finished the regular season with a 2–8 overall record and a 1–3 district mark.
Among the Cougars’ offensive contributors this season was senior running back Aymaud Sykes, who averaged nearly 140 rushing yards per game in available MaxPreps statistics. Junior Shawn Williams was also a contributor in the receiving game, averaging more than 63 receiving yards per contest in the reported statistics.
Although the season included several difficult matchups, Friday’s offensive performance provided a competitive finish to the Cougars’ regular-season schedule.
Montgomery Tigers Nearly Upset St. Mary’s in 42–36 Thriller
The Montgomery Tigers delivered one of their most competitive performances of the season Friday night, pushing St. Mary’s to the final minutes before falling 42–36 at Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches.
Facing a St. Mary’s team that entered the contest with only one loss, Montgomery battled throughout the evening and briefly took the lead late in the fourth quarter.
With 8:18 remaining, Montgomery moved ahead 30–26 after scoring two touchdowns in less than two minutes, aided by a successful onside-kick recovery.
St. Mary’s answered with a touchdown and two-point conversion to regain the lead at 34–30 with 6:41 remaining.
The Natchitoches team extended its advantage to 42–30 with 4:36 left in regulation.
Montgomery refused to go away, scoring again with 1:58 remaining to cut the deficit to six points.
However, St. Mary’s recovered the ensuing onside kick and secured a first down to run out the clock, preserving the 42–36 victory.
St. Mary’s standout John Paul Thibodaux accounted for 26 points, scoring four rushing touchdowns and adding a two-point conversion.
Despite the loss, Montgomery’s performance against a nine-win opponent demonstrated the Tigers’ ability to compete against strong competition entering postseason play.
Montgomery finished the regular season with a 4–6 record, while St. Mary’s improved to 9–1.
Playoff Preview: Montgomery Travels to Elton for First-Round Matchup
The Louisiana High School Athletic Association released its official 2026 football playoff pairings Sunday, November 8, setting the stage for Montgomery’s postseason opener.
DIVISION IV NON-SELECT — FIRST ROUND
No. 19 Montgomery Tigers at No. 14 Elton Indians
Playoff week: November 12–14, 2026
Elton, Louisiana — Away game
Exact kickoff date and time have not been independently confirmed.
Montgomery enters the playoffs as the No. 19 seed with a 4–6 record and will face No. 14 Elton, which finished the regular season at 7–3.
The Tigers will be looking to build on their six-touchdown performance against St. Mary’s and carry that offensive momentum into the postseason.
Elton will have the advantage of playing at home, but Montgomery’s competitive showing against a strong St. Mary’s program provides reason for optimism heading into the opening round.
The winner will advance to the regional round of the Division IV Non-Select playoffs.
Grant Cougars Miss Playoff Field
Grant’s season came to an end following its loss to West Ouachita. The Cougars were not included among the 28 teams in the Division III Non-Select playoff bracket.
Although Grant finished with a 2–8 record, the Cougars’ 44-point performance in their season finale highlighted their offensive potential.
With the season concluded, the program will turn its attention toward offseason development and preparations for the 2027 campaign.
Grant Parish Football Looks Ahead
The final week of the regular season provided two exciting contests for Grant Parish football supporters, with both local programs battling until the closing stages.
While the Cougars’ season has concluded, Montgomery will continue representing Grant Parish in the postseason.
The Tigers now face a challenging road assignment against Elton, with an opportunity to extend their season and advance toward the state championship.
The LHSAA regional round is scheduled for November 19–21, followed by the quarterfinals Thanksgiving week and semifinals in early December.
The state championship games are scheduled for December 10–12 at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
For Grant Parish football fans, the focus now turns to Montgomery as the Tigers prepare for their opening-round playoff challenge.